Some of the eye-catching features on boardCelebrity Edge,one of the most eagerly-awaited cruise ships for many years, will be distinguishable by their inclusion of high quality decking from Bolidt Synthetic Products and Systems.

The 2,908 passenger capacity Celebrity Cruises ship embarked on its maiden cruise from Port Everglades on December 9th 2018. Featuring a ground-breaking ‘outward facing’ design, and innovative features such as the floating cantilevered ‘Magic Carpet’ platform, the vessel makes extensive use of Bolidt’s deck, balcony and interior public space decking systems.

Bolideck? Future Teak, the environmentally-friendly alternative to real teak decking, is much in evidence on Deck 14, where it has been used on the Magic Carpet, main pool, Mast Grill, Solarium and outdoor deck spa terrace areas. It has also been used to stunning effect on Deck 15 around the Sunset Bar and Rooftop Garden. Elsewhere, the weatherproof surface Bolideck Select Soft are being used on Decks 15 and 16, where its anti-skid properties are of particular use for the ship’s jogging tracks.

Celebrity Cruises has harnessed the expertise of world-renowned interior designers, such as Kelly Hoppen, Tom Wright and Nate Berkus, who are new to the cruise industry, to ensure thatCelebrity Edgeoffers a departure from traditional thinking. Bolidt has been able to help translate their unique visions into reality, according to Jacco van Overbeek, Bolidt’s Maritime Division Director.

“We worked together with the architects and designers ofCelebrity Edgeto recommend the best systems to use for each area,” says Jacco. “Drawing on many years of experience in the cruise ship sector, we advised on wear resistance, maintenance, cleaning and sound insulation, in addition to the guidance we offered on design possibilities for each product.”

Celebrity Edgehas a total of 1,467 state rooms, of which 81% have balconies. Most of the balcony cabins have been outfitted with Bolideck? Select Soft Teak Effect and Bolideck? Select Soft, either alone or in combination, while balconies on Decks 11 and 12 feature Select? Soft Teak Effect and Bolideck? Future Teak.

The durability of Bolideck? Select Hard and Bolideck? Future Teak is further proven by their use on Deck 2’s passenger boarding and Destination Gateway areas. Meanwhile, the creative possibilities of Bolideck? Select Soft are shown in designing the patterned chess area and curved beach space on Deck 6.

Celebrity Edgeis the first newbuilding for Celebrity Cruises for six years. Three sister ships will follow it, with theCelebrity Apexdue to debut in 2020, and the remaining two in 2021 and 2022 respectively. “We have worked on every RCI newbuild for more than 20 years, with our involvement starting 2-4 years in advance of construction work beginning,” says Jacco.

Bolidt is also contracted to provide a similar range of deck and flooring solutions to all three of the sister ships, which likeCelebrity Edgeare being built at STX France’s Chantier d’Atlantique shipyard.

Bolidt’s continuous commitment to innovation will be further demonstrated with the opening of its Experience & Innovation Centre in the ‘AREA78’ development, along the Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht waterfront near Rotterdam. The centre, due to open in Q2 2019, will encourage local and international visitors to immerse themselves in the world of synthetic flooring, marine decking, surface courses and other applications.